“I think everyone would prefer a tunnel. Nobody wants to look at a bridge if they don’t have to.” — Marina Garden Estates resident Sean Riley on a potential replacement for the Massey Tunnel

It’s come up time and again over cold beers, on the sidelines of sports fields and during quick chats on the sidewalk or in the driveway.

Residents of Marina Garden Estates at the northern tip of Ladner have long talked about what could replace the aging George Massey Tunnel — a bridge or a tunnel.

With the previous provincial government’s plans for a 10-lane bridge project out of the picture and a new crossing still being debated, there seems to be a fairly clear consensus in the neighbourhood.

“I think everyone would prefer a tunnel,” said Sean Riley. “Nobody wants to look at a bridge if they don’t have to.”

Riley has lived on a quiet cul-de-sac in Marina Garden Estates, which is buffered from Highway 99 by a golf course, a multi-use path and a stand of trees, for nine years.

If a bridge were built to connect Delta to Richmond, he and his neighbours would be able to see it from the top floor of their houses, and the sound of traffic would likely be more than just a distant hum.

“I don’t think a bridge would be an optimal solution,” said Deborah Stewart. “I would much rather have a tunnel, because it is close and you would get some noise and some exhaust fumes.”

The preference in this neighbourhood and the smaller RiverHouse development on the east side of the highway for a tunnel is something Delta Mayor George Harvie has heard loud and clear, and it influenced his opinion on the project from favouring a bridge to an immersed-tube tunnel.

The NDP cancelled a planned 10-lane, $3.5-billion bridge project in 2017 — for which early construction works had already started — and commissioned a review, which led to consultations with Metro Vancouver municipalities and First Nations.

Earlier this month, members of Metro Vancouver’s George Massey crossing task force voted in favour of sending the concept of an eight-lane immersed-tube tunnel to public consultation. The recommendation must go through a committee and the board of directors before being finalized and forwarded to the provincial government, which will do the consultation.

The task force chose from six options, which included six- and eight-lane immersed-tube tunnels, bored tunnels and bridges.

Condo construction along Admiral Way, Delta. The subdivision is just a stone’s throw from the northbound entrance to the Massey Tunnel.Gerry Kahrmann /
PNG

During the task force meeting, Harvie brought up the shading, visual and noise issues that would plague residents if a bridge were built, problems ministry officials conceded would have to be mitigated.

In addition to the homes that have been built over the past 25 years, work is underway to further develop along the waterfront at Marina Garden Estates. The approved plans include a four-storey apartment building, 580 townhouses and new businesses, including restaurants. So far, 227 townhouses have been built and another 124 are under construction, some of which are separated from the highway by only a ribbon of water and a few trees.

“I won’t turn my back to my Delta residents who are living in the area, and of whom many are first-time home buyers,” Harvie said.

The technical review’s conclusions that an immersed tunnel could be built about 40 metres from the old one without disturbing existing traffic, and would have minimal impact on agricultural land were also factors in Harvie’s decision.

It will also be comparable in price to a bridge. Although it’s expected to have the biggest environmental footprint when it is first built — due to excavation on both sides of the river, trenching and ground densification — and the environmental assessment will be the most complex, the tunnel has the lowest long-term impact and greatest potential for environmental enhancements.

Tsawwassen First Nation’s chief has voiced his opposition to an immersed-tube tunnel because of the effect it will have on fisheries.

The overwhelming sentiment from residents, however, is that something needs to be done — and soon.

“This place is only going to grow even more and we’re already way behind on infrastructure and roads and all that,” said Anneka Tuerlings, who lives in one of the new townhouses in the development that are closest to the highway, and can see the traffic through the trees from her back yard.

Although the option that causes less disruption is preferable, she’d be happy with any crossing if it improves traffic.

“I think anything that gets us moving is good,” she said.

Randy Hebinton, a retired firefighter who describes himself as “a tunnel person” in terms of preference and has lived on the same street as Riley and Stewart for eight years, is skeptical that anything will be done in the near future.

“I’m worried that government after government is just going to keep doing studies,” he said.

It’s expected the province will have a final business case for a replacement crossing completed by fall 2020.

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